Connecting a macOS computer to the FRITZ!Box
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VPN with FRITZ!
A virtual private network (VPN for short) allows you to establish bug-proof encrypted connections over the internet to your FRITZ!Box and all devices in your home network.
You can establish VPN connections to the FRITZ!Box on any smartphone, tablet, and computer, or connect two FRITZ!Boxes at different locations with each other. The FRITZ!Box supports two different VPN solutions for this purpose:
- The established IPSec is supported directly by many operating systems and also allows you to establish VPN connections between the FRITZ!Box and a company's VPN.
- The modern WireGuard makes it especially fast and easy to create a VPN connection. On smartphones and tablets, all you have to do is scan a QR code for example.
1 Configuring IPSec VPN
VPN with MyFRITZ!App
In Android it is especially easy to establish IPSec connections with the MyFRITZ!App. Install the MyFRITZ!App on your smartphone or tablet, log in to your FRITZ!Box, and set up the VPN connection in the settings of the app with just a single click.
Then you can always establish a VPN connection to your FRITZ!Box in the MyFRITZ!App under "Home Network" when you are away from home. As soon as the connection is established, you can use a direct link in the MyFRITZ!App to access your FRITZ!Box and other devices that have their own web interface, for example a NAS system.
Connecting individual devices with the FRITZ!Box via VPN
In Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux, you can establish IPSec connections to your FRITZ!Box with the solution included in the operating system without additional software. Follow the instructions in the corresponding guide:
- Setting up an IPSec VPN to the FRITZ!Box in Android
- Setting up an IPSec VPN to the FRITZ!Box on an iPhone or iPad
- Setting up an IPSec VPN to the FRITZ!Box in Linux
- Setting up an IPSec VPN to the FRITZ!Box in macOS
In Windows, however, the IPSec connection cannot be established using on-board tools. Using WireGuard is recommended in this case. Alternatively, you can also use the FRITZ!VPN software on computers with 8 / 7.
Connecting two FRITZ!Box home networks via VPN
In addition to granting individual devices access, you can also use IPSec to connect two different FRITZ!Box home networks at different locations (LAN-LAN linkup) so that the devices in each home network can access all of the devices in the other home network:
Connecting the FRITZ!Box with a company's VPN
Depending on which VPN solution your company uses, you may also be able to establish IPSec connections to the VPN server in your company. Although you can access devices in the company network over such connections, it is not possible to access devices in your home network from the company network:
2 Configuring a WireGuard VPN
Connecting individual devices with the FRITZ!Box via VPN
You can use the WireGuard app on your smartphone, tablet, and computer to quickly and easily establish VPN connections to your FRITZ!Box. Follow the instructions in the corresponding guide:
- Setting up a WireGuard VPN to the FRITZ!Box on a smartphone or tablet
- Setting up a WireGuard VPN to the FRITZ!Box on the computer
Connecting the FRITZ!Box home network to the other network over VPN
With WireGuard, you can also connect your FRITZ!Box with another FRITZ!Box or a router from another manufacturer that supports WireGuard (LAN-LAN linkup) and thus access all of the devices at the other location with all of your devices:
- Setting up a WireGuard VPN between two FRITZ!Box networks
- Setting up a WireGuard VPN between the FRITZ!Box and another router
Connecting the FRITZ!Box to a VPN provider
With WireGuard, you can also use your FRITZ!Box to establish a VPN connection to an internet anonymization service (VPN provider) if it supports WireGuard connections. All of your devices in the home network then access the internet via the connection to the VPN provider.